for him to have her behaving like a different person.
Then again, he didn’t seem rattled by the situation. His handsome face had an expression of calm contentment. The chiseled features were steady as the mountains outside and it was hard to imagine him getting upset or bothered by anything. Jake was obviously the kind of man who took things in stride. Her hand felt totally comfortable in his, as if he was promising her that he’d take care of her and make sure only good things happened.
Why did it feel so bizarre that such a gorgeous and successful man was all hers?
Well, of course she had to share him with a small nation, but after the lights went out he was hers alone. Hope and excitement rose through her, along with a curl of desire that matched the steam rising off the hot chocolate.
Jake kept his gaze on her face as the waiter poured the fragrant liquid into two wide round cups and then dropped a dollop of thick whipped cream on top of each one. When the waiter moved away, Jake lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Sensual excitement flashed through her body at the soft touch of his mouth on her skin, a promise of what would come when they were alone together.
Andi fought the urge to glance around to see if anyone had witnessed the intimate moment. She drew in a deep breath and forced herself to display the kind of cool that Jake possessed naturally. She’d better get used to being in the public eye, since she’d be spending the rest of her life in it.
If she really was marrying Jake. The idea still seemed too far-fetched and outrageous to truly believe. He gently let go of her hand and she moved it quickly to her cup and covered her confusion with a sip. The rich and delicious chocolate slid down her throat and heated her insides. Perfect.
Everything was perfect. Too perfect.
So why couldn’t she escape the niggling feeling that when she got her memory back she’d discover something was horribly wrong?
Andi grew increasingly nervous as they drove back to the palace. None of the other staff knew about their engagement—at least as far as she knew. How would they react?
She climbed out of the car on shaky legs. Did she have a best friend here in whom she confided? Or was that person Jake? Tears hovered very close to the surface, but she tried hard to put on a brave face as they approached the grand doorway up a flight of wide steps.
“Good morning, sir.” A black-attired man opened the door before they even reached it. “And may I offer you congratulations.”
Andi cringed. They all knew already? Word spread around this tiny country like a plague.
“Congratulations, Andi. I’m not sure whether it’s appropriate to tell you that, as usual, the mail is in your office.”
She didn’t even know she had an office, let alone where it was. She gulped, realizing that she’d be expected to do her job, regardless of whether or not she could remember how.
Either that or tell everyone that her mind had been wiped blank, and she couldn’t face that. “Thanks,” she managed.
She kept her hand buried deep in the pocket of her wool coat as they crossed the marble-floored entrance hall. Faces looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t remember names or if they were friends as well as coworkers. Jake stopped to answer some questions about a phone call they’d received, and Andi hesitated, unsure which direction to walk in, or where to even hang her coat. Worse yet, a girl with lots of red hair rushed up to her, wide-eyed. “Why am I the last to know everything?”
Andi managed a casual shrug.
The redhead leaned in and lowered her voice. “I see you decided not to leave after all?”
Andi’s eyes widened. “Leave?” She glanced up to see if Jake had heard, but he was still deep in conversation several yards away.
“Stop acting innocent. I saw the suitcases you bought in town. Still, obviously something better than a new job came up.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Truer words were never spoken. Anxiety churned the hot chocolate in her stomach. Suitcases? A new job? That was odd. She needed to get to her room and see if she could find something to jog her memory.
If only she knew where her room was.
She remembered the way back to Jake’s suite, and was tempted to head that way without him just to get away from the inquisitive redhead. Then again, he was apparently her boss, so that might look odd.
The ring practically burned her finger, still hidden deep inside her coat. “Let me take that for you.” An older man with neat white hair crossed the floor. Andi stared. “Your coat,” he continued, demonstrating the hanger in his hand. “I wonder if it’s premature to call you Your Majesty?” he asked with a kind expression.
“Probably.” She managed a smile while shrugging the coat off. She looked up at Jake and their eyes met. He must have seen the plea in her face as he detached himself from his questioner and strode to her side. “Let’s head for my office.”
As soon as they were on the stairs, she whispered that she didn’t know where her room was. He frowned for a second, then smiled. “We’ll go there right now.”
The hallway was empty. “I don’t even know anyone’s name. It’s the most awkward feeling. People must think I’m so rude.”
“That was Walter. Worked here back when it was a hotel and always the first to know every bit of gossip. He probably spread the word.”
“This building was a hotel?”
“For a while. It had a few different lives while my family was in exile in the States. It took a lot of work to get it looking like this, and you were in charge of most of it.”
Andi bit her lip, walking along carpet she may even have selected. Jake pointed to the third polished wood door in a long hallway, only a few yards from his. “That’s yours. It wasn’t locked when I came to get your clothes.”
She tried the handle and it swung open. A neat, hotel-like room greeted her, with heavy brocade curtains and a small double bed. The dark wood furniture looked antique and impressive. She cringed at the sight of a pair of panty hose draped over the bed.
“Um, maybe I should spend a little time alone here. See if anything jogs my memory.”
“Sure.” Jake stroked her back softly. Her skin heated under her T-shirt as he turned her toward him and lowered his face to hers. All worries and fears drifted way for a few seconds as she lost herself in his soft and gentle kiss.
“Don’t worry about anything.” He pointed to a dresser. “Your phone’s right there and you’ve always told me I’m programmed in as number one.” He winked. “I’ll head for my office to deal with this electrical supply situation that’s cropped up. Call me if you need anything, and even if you don’t.”
Her fingers felt cold as he released them from his, but she couldn’t help a sigh of relief as she closed the door behind him and found herself alone in the room. At last she could … fall apart.
Part of her wanted to run to the bed and collapse on it, sobbing. But another, apparently more influential, part wanted to pull open the drawers and search for signs of who she was. She tucked the stray panty hose back into their drawer, wondering if she’d taken them out when she was dressing in her evening gown. She wasn’t wearing any when she’d woken up in the morning.
The drawer was rather disorganized, as if everything was just shoved in there without much thought. What did this tell her about herself? She frowned and pulled open the drawer above it. Three carelessly folded blouses and some socks gave no further encouragement about her organizational skills.
The closet door was slightly ajar and she pulled it open. An array of colorful suits hung from the hangers, along with several solid-colored dresses and skirts. At least it didn’t look as messy as her drawers. She pushed some hangers apart and pulled down one of the suits. A medium blue, it was tailored but otherwise quite